(2020-01-23). Defamation suit aims to stop Hillary and her 'powerful elite friends' from silencing patriotic Americans, Gabbard says. rt.com 
Suing Hillary Clinton for defamation is necessary in order to keep the former first lady and her powerful allies from smearing Americans who seek "peace and freedom" for all, Tulsi Gabbard has argued. | The Democratic presidential hopeful released a scathing statement in defense of her suit against Clinton, noting that the former secretary of state's attempt to smear her as "the favorite of the Russians" would have far-reaching consequences if left unchallenged. | "If Hillary Clinton and her allies can successfully destroy my reputation — even though I'm a war veteran and a sitting member of Congress …
(2020-01-23). Ten Best Messages for Waging Peace. counterpunch.org 
The rapid response to US war moves against Iran has been an exciting start toward rebuilding the anti-war movement we so desperately need. Thousands took to the streets in more than 80 cities. It's a great beginning. But, if we want a movement of millions we are going to have to reach everyday people outside of the existing movement, outside of partisan politics and outside of strictly moral appeals.
(2020-01-23). GOP senators look down in embarrassment as prosecutors make their case. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON — It was lucky for GOP senators at the impeachment trial yesterday that press cameras had been banned from the chamber and that only the stationary Senate cameras were running. Otherwise images of them fidgeting, squirming and looking down in embarrassment as House prosecutors spoke would have been beamed into the homes of American …
(2020-01-23). Trump impeachment trial starts as several unions speak out. peoplesworld.org 
WASHINGTON —The Republican-run Senate's impeachment trial of GOP President Donald Trump opened Jan. 21 with heated verbal jousting from lawyers — as several unions have spoken out. National Nurses United, Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten and Service Employees President Mary Kay Henry — strongly supported the impeachment process, but haven't taken a position on actual …
(2020-01-23). "The New Colossus": In New Play, Tim Robbins Tackles Immigration & Xenophobia. democracynow.org 
President Trump said Wednesday that he would expand his highly controversial travel ban, which already bars citizens from seven countries, most of which have Muslim-majority populations — Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, North Korea and Venezuela — from entering the United States. Politico reports that the expanded ban could implement immigration restrictions on seven more countries: Belarus, Burma, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to two sources. We speak with acclaimed actor, director and activist Tim Robbins, whose recent work has focused on immigration to the United S…
(2020-01-23). Up to 40 Syrian troops killed, 80 injured as militants stage SIX attacks in Idlib — Russian military. rt.com 
Hundreds of fighters have attempted to break through Syrian Army lines, losing dozens of militants in the process while inflicting heavy casualties on government troops who eventually had to retreat. | Almost 600 fighters staged six attacks on Syrian forces, the Russian military's Reconciliation Center in Syria told the media on Thursday. "In the wake of the offensive, government troops left their positions in the southeastern part of the Idlib de-escalation zone," it said. | The message didn't reveal details of the firefight, but the number of casualties suggests that it was fierce and took a heavy toll on bo…
(2020-01-23). Headlines for January 23, 2020. democracynow.org Democrats Accuse Trump of Trying to "Cheat" Upcoming Election, Supreme Court Decides Not to Fast-Track Obamacare Case, D.C. Sues Trump's Inaugural Committee over $1M Rental of Trump Hotel Ballroom, ICJ Orders Burma to Protect Rohingya from Genocide, Trump Says He's Planning to Add More Countries to Travel Ban, State Department to Make It More Difficult for Pregnant Women to Receive Visas, Trump Says He May Cut Medicare, Social Security, Trump Plans to Speak at Anti-Choice March for Life Friday, Chinese Authorities Seal Off City of Wudan as Coronavirus Spreads, Tulsi Gabbard Sues Clinton for Defamation, U.N.: Clim…
(2020-01-23). US Troops Blocking Russians From Syrian Oilfields in Series of Dangerous Standoffs. theantimedia.com (ZH) — Yet another dangerous incident has played out between American and Russian forces operating in Syria in what appears a series of standoffs near key oil installations since Saturday. "This is the third incident that occurred within a week," one local reporter told VOA in an alarming report. Days ago we reported on the first incident involving a US convoy blocking a Russian …
(2020-01-23). US troops confront Russian convoy near Syrian oil fields. wsws.org Washington is occupying Syrian oil fields to deny resources to Damascus and continue its drive for regime change.
(2020-01-23). How the Military-Industrial Complex Gets Away With Murder in Contract After Contract. counterpunch.org Call it a colossal victory for a Pentagon that hasn't won a war in this century, but not for the rest of us. Congress only recently passed and the president approved one of the largest Pentagon budgets ever. It will surpass spending at the peaks of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. As last year ended,
(2020-01-23). Greenpeace Climate Ranking Update: Steyer Passes Warren, Buttigieg Passes Biden, Bloomberg Enters Top 10. commondreams.org ______________________________…
(2020-01-23). An Epic Act of Resistance and Trial of Our Times. "The Venezuela Embassy Protectors Collective" globalresearch.ca On February 11th, four American peace activists, known as the
(2020-01-23). On 123rd Birthday, India Remembers Dynamic Freedom Fighter Whose Death Still Remains a Mystery. sputniknews.com New Delhi (Sputnik): India gained freedom from British colonial rule in 1947 after almost two centuries of peaceful and in some cases violent struggle. Subhas Chandra Bose, a political activist who believed that freedom could not be achieved through peaceful means, has been fondly remembered as a "Netaji" (leader).
(2020-01-23). A Cesspool of Constitutional Nonsense-Impeachment in the Senate. counterpunch.org The process moves to the Senate. Will the mockery continue after the procedurals and pomp are put to rest and the hearing begins? Or will there be a genuine attempt to find some truth no matter how shallow? Since the House of Representatives closed up its hearings in December 2019, the most interesting event to
(2020-01-23). 12 States Where Democrats Could Flip the Senate. thenation.com 12 States Where Democrats Could Flip the Senate…
(2020-01-23). Democrats begin Senate trial of Trump with anti-Russia diatribe. wsws.org A casual viewer might have concluded that Russian President Vladimir Putin, not Trump, was on trial.
(2020-01-23). Do Republicans Have More to Lose Than Democrats in the Impeachment Trial? counterpunch.org Now that President Donald Trump's Senate Trial has begun there are some critical points to keep in mind in evaluating both the process and the likely outcome. All analysis, up to now, is based on the very low probability that 14 Republicans would break party ranks to convict Trump on the two articles of impeachment
(2020-01-23). Senate Republicans are allowing themselves to be used as pawns by McConnell to save Trump. nationofchange.org "Listen up, Senate Republicans and understand that you also are the ones who are on trial alongside Trump."
(2020-01-23). Trump Brags About Withholding Evidence as Democratic Impeachment Managers Lay Out Case in the Senate. democracynow.org 
During the opening day of oral arguments in the impeachment trial, President Trump was accused of abusing his office to "cheat an election." House impeachment managers spent about eight hours on Wednesday laying out their case for why President Trump should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. While the impeachment trial was taking place in the Senate, Presiden…
(2020-01-23). Trump Brags About Withholding Evidence as Impeachment Trial Proceeds in Senate. truthout.org During the opening day of oral arguments in the impeachment trial, President Trump was accused of abusing his office to "cheat an election." House impeachment managers spent about eight hours on Wednesday laying out their case for why President Trump should be removed from office. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump's politica…
(2020-01-23). EU urges Syrian regime to stop Idlib offensive. yenisafak.com The EU in a statement on Thursday called the Syrian regime and its allies to stop a new offensive hurting civilians near Idlib in northwestern Syria, the second time in a month."The renewal of the offensive in Idlib, including repeated airstrikes and shelling targeting civilians are unacceptable and must cease", the European External Action's Service spokesperson Peter Stano said in the statement.Airstrikes by the Syrian regime and its backers have killed at least 35 people in the last few days in north west Syria. More than 350,000 civilians have been displaced.The EU's foreign and security policy service reaffi…
(2020-01-23). At least 36,000 Syrians flee Idlib de-escalation zone. yenisafak.com Around 36,000 more civilians have fled their homes falling inside the Idlib de-escalation zone in Syria over the last two days and the number of displaced civilians reached 450,000 since November 2019 due to attacks of the regime and its allies.According to Syria's Response Coordination Group, the displaced civilians headed to areas near the Turkish border due to the attacks which violate a cease-fire agreement between Turkey and Russia.Mohammad Hallaj, the director of the group, told Anadolu Agency that the civilians left their homes in Darat Izzah, Atarib, Haiian, Hraytan, Anadan, Khan Tuman, Khan al-Asal, Kafr…
(2020-01-23). US Democrats push resistant Republicans to join case for ousting Trump. yenisafak.com Democrats planned to plow ahead on Thursday at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial with their arguments for removing him from office, but Republicans showed no signs of softening their resistance to the Democratic case.U.S. Representative Adam Schiff and other Democratic impeachment managers are pressing their argument that Trump should be convicted of two articles of impeachment passed by the House last month – abuse of power and obstruction of Congress – for pressuring Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden last year, and impeding the inquiry into the matter.Blocked so far in their drive to pe…
(2020-01-23). Libya's neighbors seek solutions at Algeria peace meeting. yenisafak.com Foreign ministers from North Africa on Thursday met to discuss the ongoing political crisis in Libya without any participation from the Libyan side.Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Chad, Mali and Sudan are participating at the meeting in the capital Algiers.The meeting which was initiated by Algeria aims to find a political solution for the crisis in Libya in light of the agreement on the Berlin conference held last Sunday.An Algerian diplomat told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter that the meeting was limited to neighboring countries of Libya.The diplomat denied what the media r…
(2020-01-22). 'Obvious malicious intent': Tulsi Gabbard hits Clinton with defamation suit over 'Russian asset' smear. rt.com 
Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard is suing two-time White House runner-up Hillary Clinton over her claim that Gabbard was a "Russian asset," alleging that the lie hurt not just her campaign but the entire election. | Clinton "lied about her perceived rival Tulsi Gabbard… publicly, unambiguously, and with obvious malicious intent" when she claimed Gabbard was "the favorite of the Russians," the campaign alleges in the
(2020-01-22). Senate approves Trump impeachment trial rules after grueling 12-hour session. rt.com 
Senate Republicans have pushed through ground rules for President Trump's impeachment trial, ending more than 12 hours of contentious debate with their Democratic rivals over guidelines for the proceedings. | Approved by a party-line vote of 53 to 47, the rules give House prosecutors and Trump's legal team 24 hours each to argue their cases for and against impeachment. The opening statements are scheduled to begin on Wednesday afternoon. | After each side makes their case, senators will have 16 hours to submit questions in writing. The Senate will then consider subpoenaing witnesses or relevant documents. | Al…
(2020-01-22). "Andrew Johnson Was a Lot Like Trump": Echoes of 1868 in Trump's Impeachment Trial. democracynow.org 
After a nearly 13-hour marathon session, the U.S. Senate approved by a party-line vote the rules for the impeachment trial of President Trump. This marks just the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Under the rules, each side will be given 24 hours over a three-day period for opening arguments. Senators also agreed to automatically admit evidence from the House inquiry into the trial record. Republicans rejected 11 amendments from Democrats to subpoena witnesses and…
(2020-01-22). "The Senate Voted for a Cover-Up": GOP Senators Tilt Impeachment Trial in Trump's Favor. democracynow.org 
After the first marathon day leading up to President Trump's impeachment trial, we speak with Vince Warren and Baher Azmy, executive director and legal director, respectively, of the Center for Constitutional Rights. In a 13-hour session, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate approved rules for the impeachment trial that Vince Warren says are tantamount to a "cover-up." Under the rules, each side will be given 24 hours over a three-day period for opening arguments. Senators also agreed to automatically admit evidence from the House inquiry into the trial record. Republicans rejected 11 amendments from Democrats t…
(2020-01-22). Ending Militarization Of Our Communities. dissidentvoice.org 
From Stop The Militarization of Police Facebook page In recent weeks Popular Resistance has focused on the escalation of US militarism around the world, especially in the Middle East with the assassination of General Soleimani, US troops staying in Syria to take their oil and the US refusing to leave Iraq despite being asked to leave. …
(2020-01-22). Tulsi Gabbard Files Defamation Suit Against Hillary Clinton. truthdig.com NEW YORK — Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard filed a defamation lawsuit against Hillary Clinton on Wednesday over an interview in which Clinton appeared to call Gabbard "the favorite of the Russians." | Gabbard, a Hawaii congresswoman, said in her lawsuit filed in federal court in Manhattan that Clinton's comments in a podcast last year in which she suggested that Gabbard was being groomed by Russia to be a third-party candidate were based on either her own imagination or "extremely dubious conspiracy theories" that any reasonable person would know to be "inherently and objectively unreliable.
(2020-01-22). Opening plenary kicks off World Anti-Imperialist Congress. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – On January 22, hundreds of international delegates from 52 countries heard from leaders from Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil to kick off the World Anti-Imperialist Congress. | Starting with a professor from Syria who remarked that U.S. imperialism assassinated Iranian General Qassem Soleimani because the U.S. fears it is losing its grip on the Middle East, the crowd shouted "Viva Soleimani!" He added that, with the help requested by Syria from Russia, Iran and others, the Syrians have bravely declared "No pasarán!" | After the Syrian professor, an official from the Cuban Communist Party sha…
(2020-01-22). Syrian ambassador to Venezuela with FRSO delegation. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – Members of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) delegation Sarah Martin and Jim Byrne, with Syrian Ambassador to Venezuela Khalil Bitar, attending World Anti-Imperialist Congress in Caracas.
(2020-01-22). Headlines for January 22, 2020. democracynow.org Senate Approves Rules for Trump's Impeachment Trial, Spain Declares Climate Emergency & Readies Climate Legislation, Australian Wildfires Release Massive Amounts of Greenhouse Gas, Airstrikes in Syria Kill 40 People, Including Children, in Idlib, Protesters Denounce Lebanon's Newly Formed Government, U.S. Deports Honduran Children Seeking Asylum to Guatemala Despite Being Ill, Hillary Clinton Slams Bernie Sanders in New Documentary But Says She Will Support Democratic Nominee, Architect of CIA's Torture Program Testifies in War Court at Guantánamo Bay, The Guardian: Bezos's Cellphone Was Allegedly Hacked by Saudi…
(2020-01-22). Video: Dozens Army Troops Killed, Injured in Idlib Clashes. globalresearch.ca 46 Syrian service members have been killed and 77 were wounded in recent clashes with radical militants in Greater Idlib in the period from January 16 to January 19, the Russian Reconciliation Center reported. According to the report, 57 civilians …
(2020-01-22). Europe dispatches naval flotilla to threaten Iran, Syria. wsws.org A French aircraft carrier and European naval flotillas will patrol strategic Middle East waters that are critical to the global oil trade.
(2020-01-22). OPCW investigator testifies at UN that no chemical attack took place in Douma, Syria. thegrayzone.com In testimony before the United Nations Security Council, former OPCW inspection team leader and engineering expert Ian Henderson stated that…
(2020-01-22). OPCW Inspector Debunks Doctored Syria Report. "The Chemical Weapons Incident That Never Occurred" globalresearch.ca Last November, WikiLeaks published information from an OPCW whistleblower. | A member of its fact finding mission to Douma, Syria, he expressed grave "concern over intentional bias introduced to a redacted version of the report he co-authored." | The OPCW's so-called Fact …
(2020-01-22). The Members of Congress Who Profit from War. globalresearch.ca It was shortly after midnight in Baghdad on Friday, Jan. 3, when a missile strike ordered by President Trump killed Iranian General Qassem …
(2020-01-22). Delegates arrive in Venezuela on eve of World Anti-Imperialist Congress. fightbacknews.org Caracas, Venezuela – Hundreds of delegates arrived in Caracas from around the world, January 21, the eve of the World Anti-Imperialist Congress. The Congress is being held January 22-24 in Caracas and is hosted by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Venezuela's governing party, which has been under sharp attack by U.S. imperialism. | The congress is bringing together a broad range of anti-imperialist organizations, movements and governments from around 100 countries. At the congress they will exchange views and experiences and will strategize about strengthening the struggle against U.S. imperia…
(2020-01-22). UN's Mladenov says Jordan Valley Annexation Would Have Devastating Effects. imemc.org Nickolay Mladenov, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, today, expressed concern regarding Israeli plans to annex the occupied Jordan Valley, stressing that such a step would have devastating effects on the region. "The annexation of some or all of Area C in the West Bank, if …
(2020-01-22). The People of Colombia are Cracking the Walls of War and Authoritarianism. counterpunch.org The protests that started with the national strike called by Colombia's central union on November 21 to protest pension reforms and the broken promises of the peace accords have persisted for two months and grown into a protest against the whole establishment. And the protests have continued into the new year and show no signs
(2020-01-22). For the First Time, Majority of US Wants the Senate to Remove Trump From Office. truthout.org A new CNN poll reveals for the first time that a majority of Americans want President Donald Trump to be impeached and removed from office. | The Notably, this is the first prominent phone poll…
(2020-01-22). First the Trial, Then the Evidence? Impeachment in Wonderland. truthout.org In a scene straight out of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the GOP-controlled Senate has refused to allow timely testimony from witnesses who had front row seats to Donald Trump's abuse of power. The senators voted 53-47, strictly along party lines, to table any possible discussion of whether to allow witnesses and documentary evidence until six days of legal arguments and two days of senator questioning had occurred. That means the parties will argue the case and senators will ask questions before they eve…
(2020-01-22). Andrew Johnson Was a Racist President Facing Impeachment. Sound Familiar? truthout.org After a nearly 13-hour marathon session, the U.S. Senate approved by a party-line vote the rules for the impeachment trial of President Trump. This marks just the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. Under the rules, each side will be given 24 hours over a three-day period for opening arguments. Senators also agreed to automatically admit evidence from t…
(2020-01-22). Senate adopts rules for quick impeachment trial of President Trump. wsws.org The statements on the Senate floor by both the lawyers for Trump and the House impeachment managers made clear the right-wing, antidemocratic politics of both warring factions.
(2020-01-22). To Open Congress to Working People, Georgia Democrat Petitions FEC to Use Campaign Funds for Healthcare. commondreams.org Nabilah Islam, a progressive Democrat running for Congress in Georgia's 7th district, is one of more than 100,000 people in her community who lack health insurance—and she is preparing to ask the Federal Election Commission to help allow more working Americans run for public office by allowing candidates to pay for health insurance using campaign funds. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files… …
(2020-01-22). Executive Power: Alan Dershowitz's Imagination Versus the Constitution. counterpunch.org 
"The Constitution," Alan Dershowitz claims, "allocates to the president sole authority over foreign policy (short of declaring war or signing a treaty)." Dershowitz makes that claim by way of defending US president Donald Trump against conviction in the Senate on two articles of impeachment. More specifically, he disputes the Government Accountability Office's claim that Trump
(2020-01-21). 'I'll straight up get armed': Yet another Bernie staffer caught spouting extremist ideas, is there a problem in the campaign? rt.com 
A video exposing the extreme viewpoints of yet another staffer of the Bernie Sanders campaign has some questioning whether there is a growing issue inside the Vermont senator's ranks. | A video released on Tuesday by Project Veritas reveals a man identified as Martin Weissgerber, a paid field organizer for the Sanders presidential campaign in South Carolina, fantasizing about sending Republicans to "reeducation camps" and Sanders dissolving the Senate and House of Representatives should he become president. | "Do we just cease — do we just dissolve the Senate, House of Representatives, the judicial branc…
(2020-01-21). Voting Rights Advocate: The Impeachment of Trump Is Needed to Protect Our Elections & Democracy. democracynow.org 
The impeachment trial begins its proceedings in the Senate today amid accusations of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell attempting to rush the impeachment process. Senators will have 16 hours for questions and four hours for debate, after 24 hours for opening arguments on each side. We speak with Rick Perlstein, historian and author, and Kristen Clarke, president and executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Clarke says that thanks to the rules set by McConnell, Trump's impeachment trial could be over within a week, with much of the debate taking place in the evening. The proces…
(2020-01-21). McConnell impeachment rules a travesty against the Constitution and the people. peoplesworld.org 
If President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell prevail on rules they are introducing today the impeachment trial will be nothing more than a sham and a coverup. The trial is underway today with the controversial rules scheduled to be introduced around 1 p.m. ET. In the last minute yesterday, McConnell sprung his disgraceful …